> Love Never Expects

bluediamond

Love Never Expects......

I was crossing the bus stop at Saidapet. It was drizzling outside. Still I wanted to enjoy it. So, I dropped down the window of my car. Then I noticed Kavitha standing on the bus stand. It was around 9 P.M. I was thinking “What she is doing by this time in bus stop?”. Since heavy traffic was there due to rain, I couldn’t get down and ask her.
So I just moved away from her and thinking about our school days.

“Kavitha was a beautiful and intelligent girl in my class. She always stood top in our class. So obviously many guys proposed her in our school. But she always avoided. Since she hailed up from a poor family, she was always keeping herself away from others which normally attract everyone.

I remember that she had two younger sisters and living with her mom near the school.
Her father was no more. She used to do some tailoring work as a part time. Her mother was working as servant maid in two to three houses.

But all girls in our class were very jealous about her because of her intelligence and beauty. So they used to tease her by quoting her poverty. Still she never uttered a single word and just wore a smile on her face always. That’s all we all knew about her. But today I saw her after 10 years and she still remains the same. I was not able to notice any changes on her face. Next time, if I meet her, I’ll talk with her.”
After a week, I was crossing the same bus stop around 9 P.M. and saw kavitha standing in the bus stop. Thank God! It’s not raining now. So, I stopped my car and got down from my car. I called her “Kavitha!”. She turned at me and expressed a look that she didn’t remember me. I understood the meaning of that and said”Hey! I am Jhansi. Your school mate. Don’t you remember?” She replied with her sweet voice “I’m Sorry Pa. I am seeing you after a long time and not able to identify” (ofcourse, I changed a lot). I asked her “R u going to home, I’ll drop you at your place”. But she was ignoring me and felt like a disturbance in that place. She said “No, thanks. I’ve some work. We will meet some other time”. And she turned other side. It was not an unexpected thing for me. She never accepts others help at any time. So I told “Ok! Let us meet some other time”.

I was asking myself “Why she is so absurd to me? I dint ask anything wrong. Ok. She is like that. Leave it!”

After a month, I crossed the same bus stop. This time I was late by 15 minutes. I had to stop at the back of a bus standing at the stop. Kavitha was approaching towards the bus. I was thinking where she was going to. Because that was the last stop for the bus. Then I could see her assisting some one to get down from a bus.
Who was that? First I was not able to recognize. Hey! It seemed to be like her cousin Raghav. What happened to his legs. How he lost his both legs. I was very confused. I was not able to control by anxiety any more. So I parked my car and went towards them.
“Hi, Raghav, How are you? And what happened to you?” Raghav also gave the same look as Kavitha gave to me first. Then I introduced myself “ Hey! I’m Jhansi. Kavitha’s class mate.” He recognized and gave a smile (Not like Kavitha) and said “Hey! How are you? She said that you were not in India. You both are very good friends during school days and what happened to you after that?”
Then I understood that Kavitha didn’t tell about my previous meetings with her. Suddenly Kavitha said, “ Hey, My house is near to this place only. Come to my house and we will talk”. She didn’t want to wait there for a long time But I was about to attend a party in my sister’s house. I told, “ Kavitha! If you don’t mind today I’ll drop you both at your place. And I’ll come to your house on some other day since I’ve to attend a party at my sister’s place. Anyhow by dropping you at your place, I’ll come to know your house. So, Please don’t refuse?” Kavitha looked at Raghav and he nodded.

Raghav was asking about my past and present, my work, my family, etc., Since it was just 5 min from the bus stop, I gave a brief answer and said a bye to them. I again started thinking about them. Raghav was not pretty handsome but he had a good look. He used to come to our school to pay Kavitha’s school fees. He is her cousin. And his parents were no more. So Kavitha’s mom was taking care of him. I remember he studied till 8th Std and went for a job to look after Kavitha’s family. He never felt it as a burden. He was quite a good guy. We all knew that Raghav loved Kavitha. But Kavitha, She was always a question mark?

What happened to these ten years? Whether they married? So many questions in my mind again. I don’t have contact with any of my school friends. If I’ve not met kavitha in the bus stop, I would have not come to know about her. As her friend, I should know about her. So I planned to go to her house on Saturday. Thank God! I collected their home telephone number after dropping them.

Next day, I rang up kavitha at night (thinking both of them will not be available during day time). Raghav picked up. I said,”Hi, Is this Raghav?”. He said, “Yes, May I know who is speaking?”. I replied, “Hi, Raghav, this is Jhansi. How are you and Kavitha?”. He replied “Ya! All are fine. So when r u coming?” I answered quickly (actually I was waiting for that) “ Will you be free on this Saturday, I’ll come and meet you”. He said, “Sure, if you can, come after 5.00 P.M. kavitha will be coming only after 5”. Suddenly I heard a small child crying in Raghav’s house. Raghav immediately said, “Ok! Jhansi! Let us meet on Saturday. Now my kid is crying. Kavitha went to neighbour’s house function. I’ll talk when you come here. Bye”. I said bye to him and hanged up.

Just 2 more days to go. I was curious to know about her. I don’t know why. I was counting the time.

Saturday came. I started by 3.30 so that I can reach before 4.30p.m. to kavitha’s house. So I may have better time to know about Kavitha. If she is there, she will not speak and let him also to speak. I purchased some sweets and snacks (since I heard a kid’s cry in the house, assuming kids would be there) and reached their house around 4.15p.m.

I pressed the Calling Bell. Door opened. I couldn’t find a person. A sweet little voice asked, “Whom do you want, aunty?” Then I just saw a 5yr old girl. I think she might be Kavitha’s daughter. Her face resembled kavitha. And she was too smart. I was looking at her without answering. Again, she hold my saree and asked “Whom do you want aunty?”. Then I realized my position and answered, “Kavitha?”. She answered in a loud voice, “Daddy, Some one came in search of mom.” Then Raghav came in a wheel chair. “Hi, Jhansi! Come in! You are on time! Of course you are little early.” He asked his daughter, “Swetha, This is mom’s friend. Get some water for her”. That sweet girl nodded and went inside. I just opened the door fully and entered. I was speechless for a moment.

I saw the hall full of our National leader’s photos and ofcourse I found two of Kavitha’s photo. Yes! One is Kavitha’s marriage photo with Raghav. (One of my doubts was cleared). And other photo with their two children. And there was a little cupboard with lot of books about literature, Indian history etc.,

I was wondered the way Kavitha was keeping her house. It was so beautiful like her. All things were in correct position.

Raghav asked me to sit. I sat on the sofa. I drank the water given by her daughter.
Raghav said to her daughter, “Swetha, Say Hi to Aunty!” The girl replied, “hello aunty! My name is Swetha! Glad to meet you!” She said like a parrot (her parents would have taught her how to greet a person). I asked her about which school she is doing and which standard. I asked Raghav, “where is your another child?”

Raghav replied “He is sleeping and he is just one year old?” I nodded and asked him, “Raghav, it’s nice to meet you. I saw Kavitha in the bus stop last month. But she behaved differently. I don’t know why. Then I met you. I had lot of confusions. If you really don’t mind of telling about what happened in these 10 years, Please tell me. I’m ashamed about myself of not knowing anything about my friend all these days.”

Raghav replied politely, “Ok! Jhansi! I know what is eating u inside. I understood that on the very first day when I met u. U answered very briefly for my questions. And Don’t feel like asking anything about us at that time. I guessed you were thinking lot of things inside. U know Kavitha very well. Never share her thoughts with any one. I thought by calling you to my house, she will feel happy. So, I’ll tell all the stories about us. First tell me about yours. Where are you, now? What are you doing? Where you were all these days?”

Before I answered, his home telephone was ringing. It was from Kavitha. He informed her that I’ve come to her house. After hanging up he told, “Its kavitha! It’ll take 1 more hour to start from her work place. Ya! U tell me, now”

I started telling him, “After I finished my school, I joined in a reputed engineering college in Bangalore. Then I was selected through campus by an American firm. I worked in Bangalore for 3 years and transferred to our HQ and working in US from last 3 years. Now my parents were making arrangements for my marriage. So I came on vacation. This is how my life is going on. One day when I saw Kavitha in the bus stop, I was not in a position to get down and talk. But second time, when I saw her at the same place, she dint answer me properly. In fact she felt me as a disturbance at that moment. Why she behaved like that?”

Raghav gave a smile and said, “Ok! Jhansi. I’m happy to her that you are settled in your life and wish u all the best for your personal life too.” And he paused for a minute.

I was confused. I asked about his past but he was just giving a smile.

He understood me and started saying about his past. By hearing the whole, tears started flowing from my eyes and I was not able to control.

My cell phone started ringing. It was a call from my mom. She said my dad fell down in the bath room. So, she asked me to come immediately. So I informed the same to Raghav and apologized for my inconvenience to meet kavitha and started from there.

While driving to my home I was keep remembering the words Raghav told me at last “LOVE never Expects”. Tears automatically rolling over my cheeks.

So, What Raghav told me? Why i was not able to control my tears? Why Raghav's last words keep hearing on my ears?

Climax….

I took my Dad to hospital. It was just a minor injury. So, Doctor asked him to take rest.
We returned from hospital. After having dinner, I just went into my room and keep thinking about Kavitha. ( Whatever Raghav told me about Kavitha)
After finishing our school days, Kavitha didn’t continue her education. Raghav compelled her to continue. But she dint want to be a burden to any one any more. So she joined in an export garments company (Since she knew tailoring). She was not earning much but she could take care of her mother (who fell sick because of her hard work) and her sisters. She was working there for three years.
Raghav proposed her. But Kavitha refused that and said she was having lot of respect on him and didn’t want to burden him any more by marrying her. (Actually Kavitha also loved him which we knew from our school days. She din’t want him to take the whole responsibility by being a first son-in-law to her family). Raghav got an opportunity to join in Indian Army. He was very patriotic and wanted to join. But he didn’t want to leave Kavitha,
The days passed.
Her supervisor’s son once came to her office and he was attracted by Kavitha. (What to do! Love at first sight!). He spoke to his dad regarding his interest. His parents didn’t accept ( as usual parents). But being a only son to their family, they dint want to loose their son. So, they accepted. They went to Kavitha’s house and spoke to her mom. (Till now Kavitha didn’t come to know anything). As a well wisher of her daughter, She accepted this proposal and gave word to Saran’s parents ( Saran was the name of her supervisor’s son).
Still Saran’s parents were not interested in this proposal. So they planned to have their marriage in a temple in a simple manner. Everything went well. But Raghav was not able to see Kavitha with some one. At the same time, he got an appointment letter to join in our Indian Army. So Raghav decided to go. He informed to his aunty and joined in army on the very next day of Kavitha’s marriage.
Kavitha lived with Saran for a week in her house and shifted to her in laws house. The very second day of her life in the new house, Saran met an accident and passed away.
Saran’s parents started cursing her and blaming her as a reason for all. So they asked her to get out of the house. She couldn’t fight for her. She was not rich, she was not educated and she didn’t have anyone to support her too. What her mother could do? Her health became still worse. Raghav also was not there.
Kavitha didn’t give up. She started to work from home from what she knows. She took tailoring classes. She was managing her family and making her sisters to educate. After a month, a big lightning stroke her life. She came to know that she was conceived. (because of one week life with Saran) When she said this to her mother, she was worried. Her mother went to Kavitha’s inlaws house to inform this. But they never wanted to see her again.
Kavitha decided to live for the kid. So, she didn’t take any hasty decision and she was going with her regular life as a widow. After 9 months, she gave a birth to a beautiful girl baby( It was none other than Swetha). She was happy with her new baby. But by seeing her with an infant child, her mom worried a lot.
By this time, Raghav lost his legs during the war at the border when fighting with our enemies. He came back to his home town.
Now Kavitha was taking care of him. Her two younger sisters were also settled in their personal life. Kavitha’s mother health was becoming worse day by day. She asked Raghav to marry Kavitha. He didn’t refuse (Still he loved her) and asked to get Kavitha's opinion. Kavitha refused first, but after her mother’s request she accepted.
Her struggle came to an end atlast. Raghav insisted her to do her education. She passed her B.A., literature and did her M.A., too. (Now she is doing her Ph.D in Indian History). Raghav was transferred to the office of defence after he lost his legs from the army. Raghav loved her and still loving her. Kavitha also loved him more than a husband. Now Kavitha was working in a college as a lecturer. She daily used to go to the bus stop to pick her husband. He would be coming by that bus which starts from his office. She never hesitated to do this.
Raghav was not considering like he sacrificed his life for her. Kavitha was not considering like its her duty to do. But both were loving each other and leading a happy life. When I asked the same question to Raghav, He replied me , “LOVE never Expects anything from our loved ones. Its just to show our LOVE to our Loved ones. I’m doing that and she is also doing the same. There is nothing more to feel sympathy or feel like sacrifice on one another. We Love each other and will be doing the same. True LOVE never Expects”. Tears started flowing out of my eyes.
After recalling the incident, I was saying myself “Yes! LOVE never Expects! Its true! Such a lucky Couple they are!” Then I closed my eyes and slept nicely (thinking of meeting them on some other day).

THE END